Chapter 114
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114
Fransek's procession safely passed through the Lower District and returned to the Upper District.
The moment we entered the Imperial Guard barracks, the tension among the men began to ease. Once inside, the procession broke apart by affiliation and unit.
"Your Highness, this way."
Iskan approached to escort Fransek, flanked by two Imperial Guardsmen.
The guardsmen and I escorted Fransek to the airfield. Waiting there was his private transport—a luxury six-seater aerial vehicle.
"I owe all of you an apology for today," Fransek said, turning back to face us as he walked ahead.
"We are merely performing our duty, Your Highness," Iskan replied politely.
"Circumstances forced me to change the schedule so abruptly. I wanted to face the real people of the Lower District, not just those prepared for a show. A lot of blood must have been spilled today because of my stubbornness."
So he knew that much. Because of Fransek's sudden schedule change, people had died needlessly.
"Your speech was magnificent, Your Highness. You possess the power to move people's hearts. Now, to the Imperial Palace—"
Iskan made to follow Fransek into the vehicle.
"No, that won't be necessary. From here, I wish to go alone."
The door of the aerial vehicle slid open, and the steps lowered. Fransek spoke with one foot already resting on them.
"Escorting you to the Imperial Palace is our duty."
"This concerns my private life. If you must insist... I will take only Lucaus Custoria with me."
Fransek offered the compromise. Even Iskan couldn't press his point far enough to intrude on the Crown Prince's privacy.
Iskan's gaze flicked to me for a brief moment before returning to Fransek.
"Understood."
Iskan nodded, reluctant. Only Fransek and I boarded the crimson aerial vehicle.
Chhh.
The door sealed shut.
Thud.
Fransek sank into his seat and unbuttoned the top button of his collar. A weary sigh escaped his lips.
I removed my stifling helmet and let out a soft breath of my own.
Click.
Fransek opened the small refrigerator built into the side of his seat and pulled out a bottle and a glass.
"Care for a drink?"
"I'm on duty," I replied, remaining on my feet. I had no intention of sitting.
"Stiff as always. This is wine made from Earth's original grape variety. You know what that means? It means you've just missed out on an incredible opportunity."
Fransek spoke as he poured. The crimson liquid sloshed in the glass, releasing a distinct aroma that filled the cabin.
Whirrr.
The aerial vehicle slowly lifted off.
"Is there a reason you didn't bring Iskan and the other guardsmen along?" I asked bluntly.
Fransek swirled the red liquid in his glass, tapping the edge of his armrest with one finger.
"You ask as if you're interrogating me. I am still the Crown Prince, you know."
"Because you did me a great disservice today. You made anti-noble remarks while holding me up as your symbol. Now there isn't a soul in Akbaran who doesn't know who I am. Thanks to that, my odds of getting assassinated have skyrocketed."
"...Hmm. It seems I'll have to apologize to you even more, then. Tonight, we are going to be attacked. That's why I left Iskan behind. Ah—the wine has breathed nicely."
Fransek took a sip, remarkably calm for a man who'd just announced his own ambush.
A memory surfaced. It was from when I'd ridden in an aerial vehicle with Heilas. We'd been attacked by terrorists back then.
Heilas was calm that day, too. Because it was all part of his plan.
This would be no different. Having reached my conclusion, I spoke.
"You staged this."
"I can tell you, since you're my Watcher. But I can't breathe a word of the staged attack to Iskan or the other guardsmen."
"Which noble are you planning to purge?"
Fransek wiped a drop of wine from his lip with his thumb and smiled.
"I don't intend to purge anyone right away. It's enough to simply stoke the lower-class citizens' hatred of the nobility. The scenario is simple: the Crown Prince, who just made anti-noble remarks... is attacked by someone that very night."
Emperor Yuri Cracia, Crown Prince Fransek, and Ivan.
The three members of the Imperial Family I had met all had slightly different goals, but they shared one common thread:
Strengthening imperial authority.
To rule the Empire as they saw fit, they kept the nobility in check without pause—sometimes even resorting to purges.
"You plan to use the nobility as a scapegoat, uniting the Lower District and winning their support. But do you intend to make enemies of all the nobles?"
"Lucaus Custoria, the Imperial Family won't be monopolizing the interests left behind by the fallen nobles. There are other nobles who've been promised a share."
So not all nobles were created equal. I narrowed my eyes slightly.
Is the Custoria family one of those the Imperial Family didn't choose?
Noble families denied power and survival by the Imperial Family either perished or fell into ruin.
"And the crucial part of today's scenario is that I'll risk my life to save you."
"'An Irregular from the Lower District saves the Crown Prince.' Hmm. How poetic."
"Haha, hearing your sarcasm actually puts me at ease. As you said, it'll make for a wonderful story. Didn't I tell you? I will make you the symbol of my reign. This is how heroes are made."
I frowned and crossed my arms.
"How is this ambush supposed to play out? Walk me through it."
"I won't be heading straight to the Imperial Palace. I've arranged a lover for tonight—a lovely young lady from the lowest ranks of the Itanori family."
Fransek tapped the armrest, projecting a hologram. The face of a woman from the Itanori family materialized in the air.
"But there needs to be a plausible reason for Your Highness's location to leak."
Even now, the aerial vehicle we rode in was likely shifting its color and shape without pause to evade tracking.
"That's exactly why I chose this girl. She's vain, with an incredibly loose tongue. She's probably been bragging to everyone that she's dating me. I told her a week ago I'd visit her the moment today's procession ended. The perfect excuse for my route to slip out."
Fransek was an exceptional man, no question. He was even skilled in schemes and conspiracies. Which was precisely why he could never imagine himself being discarded. After all, there was no reason he shouldn't become Emperor.
"Plausible indeed. Brilliant. Thanks to you, Your Highness, my blade will taste blood tonight. It's always people like me who end up shedding and spilling it."
"Your tongue sharpens when you're being sarcastic. Criticize me all you like, but this is for the Empire, not personal greed. While we were settling on Planet Novas, the power of the nobility grew far too bloated. Now that the Empire's expansion is over and we've entered a period of stability, it's time to clean house."
My tongue itched to speak.
Does Fransek know the Custoria family sits on the Emperor's purge list?
Fransek was no mere puppet Crown Prince. And yet I didn't get the sense he was looking at the true bottom of things. He merely thought and acted according to the textbook principles of imperial studies.
Fransek lacks that sticky, insidious aura the Emperor and Ivan possess. He hasn't enough desire—or malice.
I narrowed my eyes. As my thoughts deepened, my breathing slowed and stretched.
To preserve the Custoria family, I must not align myself with Fransek. This man is weak compared to the Emperor or Ivan.
Fransek was the kind of man who would break and collapse into despair the instant he grasped the true depth of the malice surrounding him.
"Luka, the attacker will be a professional assassin. Plenty of people in this world make a living out of killing. With your mastery of Akies Victima, you shouldn't have any trouble with them. And don't take any of them alive—kill them, and make sure to destroy the head."
"Hmm. No matter how money-mad an assassin is, none of them would casually accept a contract to kill royalty. So the real target of the assassination must be the young lady of the Itanori family. And the client behind it—that would be you, Your Highness."
Fransek pointed at me with the hand holding his wine glass and gave a slight nod.
"Correct, Watcher boy."
* * *
The aerial vehicle carrying Fransek and me approached a building in a high-end residential district. Following the guidance lines on the dashboard, we neared the 72nd floor, where the outer wall slid upward to reveal an indoor garage.
Whirrr.
The instant the vehicle landed, the outer wall sealed shut behind us. Lights flickered to life in the dark garage.
"Ah. We're already here."
Fransek, who had been dozing, opened his eyes. He, too, seemed to be carrying no small amount of fatigue.
Clunk!
The moment Fransek stepped out, the door leading into the residence swung open.
"Your Highness! I watched your speech today. It was truly, truly moving! You were so dignified—oh, oh, wait, wait a minute!"
The woman from the Itanori family ran toward Fransek, only to whirl and flee in a panic.
Is that even considered clothing?
I stared at her retreating figure. She wore a gown so sheer and flimsy it was practically transparent. Her lingerie beneath was every bit as daring and extravagant.
"Y-you didn't tell me you weren't coming alone!"
Now hiding behind the door, the woman peeked out with only her face showing.
"They insisted I keep at least one bodyguard with me. There was an event today, after all. I came straight here, so I had no choice."
"I-I'm dying of embarrassment! I prepared that just for you, Your Highness!"
The woman squeezed her eyes shut, her face flushing bright red.
"My apologies. This is—"
Before Fransek could finish introducing me, the woman leveled a finger my way, cutting off the Crown Prince himself.
"Ah! I saw you on the procession broadcast! You're Lucaus Custoria, right? I'm Ren Itanori. Crown Prince Fransek's... woman."
Ren Itanori seemed to hesitate at the end, unsure how to label herself.
"Yes. I've been tasked with His Highness's personal security today."
I bowed slightly, one hand over my chest.
"Wow! Do you have any idea the net is absolutely buzzing because of you right now? There are even people swearing to kill—"
"Ren, Ren, Ren. Your innocence is terribly endearing, but let's leave it there."
Fransek stepped forward and gently gathered her into his arms.
"Oh, stop it. There's someone else here..."
Ren's face turned crimson. She twirled a lock of her hair and looked down at the floor.
We walked past the garage and into the residence. It didn't look like a place anyone actually lived; there was no trace of daily life to it. I checked each room one by one, then nodded to Fransek.
"Luka, wait in the living room. I'm going to spend some time with Ren."
Fransek scooped Ren up into his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck, showering his cheeks with kisses.
"No peeking, Mr. Bodyguard!" Ren teased as they headed for the bedroom.
Their laughter bloomed like bright flowers before the door clicked shut.
...Giselle.
Amusingly enough, Giselle came to mind. Ren and Giselle were nothing alike. And yet watching them made me miss her.
Click.
I bit my nail with my front teeth and pulled myself together.
You've got a job to do, Luka. Set the idle thoughts aside.
Preparing for an ambush was easy when you already knew it was coming.
Besides, I was fully armed. Ruina was tucked away, Crucis strapped securely to my waist, and the Grakken Boot on the opposite side.
Whoosh, whoosh.
I spun the Grakken Boot across my palm. The white dagger danced gracefully between my right and left hands.
The acrobatic blade never so much as grazed my skin. It slipped through my fingers like magic, picking up speed.
I flicked the Grakken Boot behind my back, letting it fall toward my face.
Swish!
The rapidly spinning Grakken Boot plummeted right before my eyes.
Hummm.
I sharpened my focus. The world around me seemed to grind to a temporary halt. The Grakken Boot turned in slow motion.
The longer I stretched time, the hotter my brain burned, as though it might go mad. Best not to overdo it—keep the heat at a moderate level.
Snap!
I caught the blade of the Grakken Boot between two fingers, and the spinning hilt settled perfectly into my palm.
Despite the long day, my nervous system was in excellent shape. I was ready for a fight.
Honestly, so long as the enemy wasn't on the level of a high-ranking Imperial Guardsman, I was confident I could handle anyone.
"Hmm."
The apartment was reasonably soundproofed, but with my enhanced hearing, I could still catch the sounds coming from the inner room.
Not being able to hear would be its own kind of problem.
This was a security detail, after all. If any anomalous noise came from inside, I had to breach immediately.
...Then again, the man certainly had stamina. It felt like more than two hours had already crawled by.
Creak.
A noise broke the silence. Cold and dark—entirely unlike the passionate sounds I'd been listening to.
I stilled my mind and stared into the darkness. The shadows were shifting. Looking closer, I made out the silhouette of a person.
"Ha, ha."
A low chuckle slipped from my lips. The attacker I'd been awaiting—almost as eagerly as a lover—had finally arrived.
It was a thought only the worst kind of person would have, but this was the perfect chance to vent all my pent-up frustration and stress. Yes. I really am a piece of work.